Bluebird Canyon trees must come down, Laguna Beach decides

LAGUNA BEACH – After weighing concerns of neighborhood character and public safety, the City Council voted Tuesday night to remove 11 eucalyptus trees from Bluebird Canyon.

Residents packed the council chambers to share their appreciation for the trees that originally attracted many to the neighborhood. A wide range of safety concerns were also common – from the threat of trees falling on homes and blocking evacuation routes to the fire risk from their oil-rich limbs.

The City Council voted 4-1 to remove the 11 of the 31 city-owned trees in upper Bluebird Canyon, as recommended by an arborist. Four more will be trimmed, and a maintenance program will be implemented. Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson suggested replacing the 11 eucalyptus with five to 11 trees of a different type in locations that wouldn't put homes and power lines at risk. A more specific plan on replacement trees will come back to the City Council for review.

"The trees up in Bluebird are beautiful, and it creates a sense of neighborhood," she said. "We have an obligation for public safety. We're legally liable."

The issue first came the council about a year ago, when Southern California Edison asked to take down several trees that grew close to overhead power lines. The council asked for more information on the condition of all trees the city had responsibility for in the neighborhood. Officials also began working with residents, who had become divided over the issue.

Even after months of meetings, residents did not agree on how to deal with the trees.

"This is not tree lovers versus tree haters," resident Susan Whitin said. "I'm a landscape architect, and I love trees. But I do not love 60-year-old eucalyptus trees that are weakened by drought, steep slopes and disease."

Resident Todd Greene said he'd like to see opinions from two more arborists, in line with how Newport Beach studied its eucalyptus trees before removing them.

"One opinion is not enough on such an important decision such as this," he said.

Resident Mace Morse said the trees were part of the identity of Bluebird Canyon.

"A neighborhood will be irreversibly changed," he said. "We elected to move here, to live out our dreams and our lives in a neighborhood just like this."

Resident Jim Hall said he has to balance similar issues in caring for the seven eucalyptus on his property. As much as he works to keep his trees healthy, he said he wouldn't hesitate to take one down at the recommendation of an arborist.

"We try to maintain them as best we can and minimize the risk," he said.

In his original report, arborist Ed Black called the trees a ticking time bomb. In general, the trees' location on slopes near roadways encourages unhealthy roots and instability, he said. He also reported decay.

"These are very mature trees with all the ailments that come with age," he wrote. "As an arborist, it is always difficult for me to recommend taking down living trees, especially ones that are as beautiful as these are, but we have to consider public safety first."